Adjustable swivel



tinned Etates i atent Wyn.

Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 31,020 4 Claims. (Cl. 2s7--s7 v Thisinvention relates to an adjustable swivel support of the type used toprovide a rigid mounting for any applicable device.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an adjustablesetting for a swivel support that may later be readjusted to theidentical setting, thereby positioning the device in any angle desiredand further providing for easily returning the device to this positionafter a change in setting.

As an example of a use of this invention, a rear-view mirror set in thissupporting swivel can be easily adjusted to suit any individual userand, further, can easily be readjusted to this user, should the mirrorsetting be changed between uses by that person.

A further object of this invention is a means for the prevention of theaccidental disalignment of the device in the swivel support, from aknock or blow thereon.

Another object of this invention is the facilitation of the rapidsetting of predetermined positions of adjustment by means of revolvingdigitated wheels.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent upon considerationof the appended specification and drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view disclosing a swivel constructed inaccordance with the instant invention and a supporting arm, with arear-view mirror attached to the swivel;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the swivel of FIG. 1disclosing internal details and construction;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the swivel mounting similar to FIG. 2 with theregistry wheels rotated to a different position of adjustment;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 5 butwith the registry wheels further rotated to still another position ofadjustment, thus angling the mirror.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, a mirror 10 1s held in a rigidposition by a swivel mounting constructed in accordance with the instantinvention generally indicated at 11. The mirror 10 is attached to theswivel mounting 11 by means of a knurled nut 12, the frontal aperture 13of which is inwardly flanged as at 13a in order to grasp firmly thesubstantially hemispherical base 14 of the mounted member 10 whileallowing its position to be rotated and changed.

Base 14 is attached to the mirror 10 by means of a hexagonal threadedfitting 15 shown in partial cut-away in FIG. 2. The base 14 ends in asmooth flat surface to allow the surface of a cam 16 to make contact inas friction free a manner as possible. A circular hole 17 is fashionedin the center of the base 14 to permit passage of an operating rod 18.

The cam 16 is circular in shape with one side being flat and the otherside an inclined plane and is provided with a central aperture 16a soconstructed as to allow the free movement of the operating rod 18regardless of ice the position of rotation. This free movement isfacilitated by an elongated slot 19 cut in the operating rod 18 to allowthe free horizontal movement of the rod 18 around a connecting pin 20extending transversely across opening 16a. Further free movement is madepossible by the interior construction of the opening 16a, the insidedian1- eter of which tapers from the fiat surface and the inclinedsurface toward the center line. This construction allows the cam 16 tobe tilted in any direction relative to the rod 18.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, a second cam 21 is constructed with aninclined surface apposed to that of the first cam 16 so as to contactand tilt, upon rotation, cam 16. Cam 21 has an integral elongatedtubular extension 21a which forms a shoulder 22a for the retention ofone end of a spring 22 in a compressed position and further to rotatesmoothly within a fixed support sleeve 23. The sleeve 23 is recessed toform a shoulder 23a engaging the opposite end of spring 22, and isprovided with an exteriorly threaded outer end 37 to receive fitting 15.

Extension 21a is slotted as at 24 in its after portion to accommodate apin 25 carried by registry wheel 26, this slot 24 and pin 25 allowingtransmission of rotation of the wheel 26 to earn 21 and through theconfronting cam surfaces to cam 16 which, in turn, positions the mirror10 in the desired angular setting.

The spring 22 serves to bias cam 21 into abutting engagement with cam16.

Further adjustment is allowed by a second registry wheel 27 whichcarries interiorly a pin 28 engaging in an elongated slot 29 in pin 18,as seen in FIGS, 5 and 6. This connection is similar in construction tothe pin 25 and slot 24 described above and seen in FIG. 2 in that itallows limited movement in a horizontal direction of the rod 13. Therotational adjustment of the second registry wheel 27 is thustransmitted to the cam 16 by the rod 18. The proper tension is retainedupon the second Wheel 27 by means of a spring 36 which is held inposition by a casing 31 which is fastened to the outer end of rod 18 bya screw 32 and washer 33.

Spring 30 normally biases the flat surface of cam 16 against base 14,the hemispherical surface of which engages flange 13a securely to holdmirror 10 in adjusted position. Movement of wheel 26 in a direction awayfrom mirror 10 to the position of FIG. 5 will release the frictionalengagement of the parts to permit their ready adjustment.

Wheels 26 and 27 are each provided with a lug 34 as seen in FIG. 3, inorder to enhance the friction-free rotation of said wheels bysubstantially reducing the contacting face area with, in the case ofwheel 26, the end of sleeve 23, and in the case of wheel 27, theconfronting face of wheel 26.

Wheels 26 and 27 are provided with indicia 35 such as numbers or lettersplaced around the forward edge of said wheels to provide a means forregistering certain positions of the wheels and thereby of the mirror,as best shown in FIG. 3. The outer edges 36 of wheels 26 and 27 areknurled to permit ready gripping of the Wheels for rapid adjustment.

The entire mechanism, generally indicated at 11, is secured to a body,such as a vehicle, by means of a support arm 38 which is attached tosleeve 23 by any convenient means.

While the instant swivel support is herein described holding a rear-Viewmirror, its operation is not, however, limited to this application.

In the use and operation of the device a first driver positions themirror on his automobile by first rotating the registry wheels 26 and 27to a desired position. The wheels are withdrawn manually to the positionof FIG. 5

9 and the mirror suitably adjusted. The wheels are then rotated untilthe arrangement of the cams is such as to hold the mirror in therequired position and the setting of the indicia noted. Later, when asecond driver repositions the mirror in the aforesaid manner, the firstdriver can reset the device by returning the Wheels to the previoussetting and at once obtain full vision to the rear without thedifficulty of continual readjustment. Furthermore, once the mirror isset in this position, it need not be readjusted for it will not moveagain until the registry wheels are actuated.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided aswivel support which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, andothers, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A swivel support comprising, in combination, a sleeve having anopening therein, a flange surrounding said opening, an article holdinghemispherical base with a flat surface seating in said opening, a firstcam having a fiat surface confronting said flat surface of said base, asecond cam confronting the cam surface of said first cam, a firstindicia bearing wheel connected to said first cam, a second indiciabearing wheel connected to said second cam, said connections includingmeans mounting said wheels for independent rotation to vary therelationship of said confronting surfaces of said cams and hence theangular position of said base and the article connected thereto.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein spring means are provided in saidsleeve biasing said cams together and said first cam into engagementwith said flat surface of said base.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said first cam is tiltably mountedon a rod, said first wheel is fixed to said rod, said second cam ismounted on a sleeve co-axially surrounding said rod, and said secondwheel is affixed to said sleeve.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said indicia on said wheelscomprises correlated numbers denoting the relative position of said camsto each other.

Lancaster Mar. 30, 1943 Robinson Apr. 13, 1954

